The Pittsburgh Penguins’ first two wins should be their blueprint for the season – Hockey Writer – Pittsburgh Penguins
Few predicted the Pittsburgh Penguins would win their first two games of the season. It’s too early to buy playoff tickets now, and the Penguins are still in a transition period, but these two wins show they can be successful in the 2025-26 season. Their first two games of the season should be their blueprint moving forward.
Penguins proved they can win
No one said the Penguins would win the Stanley Cup, but through three games, they haven’t been as bad as most predicted. In the season opener on October 7, Pittsburgh defeated the New York Rangers 3-0, then defeated the New York Islanders 4-3 on October 9.
One of the Penguins’ biggest issues last season was defense. It’s still an issue, but they proved in their opener against the Rangers that they can play good team defense. They kept the Rangers at bay and did a good job of checking up front. Their regional exits are much better too.
The Rangers struggled to get the puck out of their own zone throughout the game but were unable to get a forward check. The Penguins clogged passing lanes all night, but they didn’t give up much rushing. This is their best defense in several seasons.
Linebacker Erik Karlsson had a mixed season in Pittsburgh, but he had a solid performance against the Rangers. His positional awareness was good throughout the game and his skating and puck handling were excellent. The Penguins worked harder than New York and played well from start to finish.
Evgeni Malkin had outstanding performances against both the Rangers and Islanders. He skates well and creates opportunities. He has five points through three games.
Rickard Recker and Sidney Crosby both scored power-play goals for the Penguins against the Islanders on Thursday. The defense once again performed well and Carlsen took the lead again, skating well and finding separation from close range. He was all over the offensive zone and showed a lot of confidence.
Freshman Justin Brazeau had a strong performance with three goals against the Rangers and Islanders, while rookies Ben Kindell and Harrison Brunik also had strong performances.
Will the Penguins keep winning?
New head coach Dan Muse has a good game plan for the season. In the first two games, the Penguins applied pressure at the point of attack and never let up. They don’t overcomplicate things and play simple, precise games.
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On October 11, the Penguins lost to the Rangers 6-1 in the rematch. Artus Silovs is Pittsburgh’s starting goalie, and his inexperience is obvious. He allowed at least one goal in each period and allowed New York to take over the game with three goals in the second period.
The Penguins outshot the Rangers 9-4 in the first quarter, but their lack of attention to detail and inability to stay out of the paint cost them the game. Their goaltending situation is still a work in progress. Silovs performed well in his first game against New York, blocking all 25 shots he faced. However, in the bubble, he showed he still has a lot to learn.
Penguins starting goaltender Tristan Jarry scored against the Islanders and had an overall strong performance. He gave up a few weak goals but made some nice saves in the third period. Jarry has struggled with consistency and spent much of last season working out his issues in the American Hockey League (AHL). If the Penguins can figure out their goaltending situation, they could be in for a good season.
